Keep current with all the latest tech developments.

Month: June 2016

DoctorLaptop’s Tips #53
The invasive tracking and data collection in Win 10 is called “telemetry” and has been added to your Win 7/8/8.1 if you have Windows Updates turned on!
-Win 10 collects your data even when all features that might be expected to do that are disabled. Not only a big privacy issue, there are also system performance issues with extra load on your processor and bandwidth usage to process these telemetry-related tasks. Now Windows 7/8/8.1 also do this. Microsoft has been adding telemetry and tracking aspects to them through Windows Update.
-For complete details, and instructions on removing telemetry in pre Win 10 systems, see: http://techne.alaya.net/?p=12499
Before you begin be sure Windows Updates is set to Never Install Updates, and run GWX Control Panel to remove all Win 10 Upgrade components Microsoft has already snuck into your computer. If this job is too complex for you contact me to do it for you. The router modifications means this job must be done as a housecall. This page explains how to use GWX Control Panel and offers a safe download link.http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html
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Samsung Owners Alert!
Samsung suggests you don’t upgrade to Windows 10 without thoroughly
researching your model as Samsung admits it has not designed the required drivers yet for most models. Read about it here:http://www.extremetech.com/computing/229433-samsung-suggests-you-dont-update-to-windows-10-until-it-gets-around-to-making-drivers
Checking if your Samsung has the required hardware for the Win 10 Upgrade is a 2 step process. First check it here:http://www.samsung.com/uk/windows10/upgrade.html
Second, get your User’s manual out, open to the Specifications page, and
check your hardware here for Win 10 compatibility and model/processor/chipset specific probs:http://www.samsung.com/uk/windows10/upgrade_windows10.pdf
(pages 11-18)
Even if your system meets all requirements Samsung says to ensure success you must upgrade in steps, from your current system to the next, one by one till you have Win 10 done, Win 7 to Win 8 to Win 8.1 to Win 10. Ouch!
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Apple News: Apple has released its latest update for OSX El Capitan, as
well as a redesign for iTunes in a separate update. This release, OS X 10.11.5, contains mainly performance tweaks. Mac OS X 10.12, the successor to 2015’s OS X 10.11 El Capitan, will likely become available to users in mid-autumn, and will be a free upgrade for those already using OS X 10.11 El Capitan.